In re Optimal U.S. Litigation
In re Optimal U.S. Litigation
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
This putative class action arises out of plaintiffs’ investment in the Optimal Strategic U.S. Equity fund (“Optimal U.S.” or the “Fund”), which in turn invested one-hundred percent of its assets with Bernard L. Madoff and his firm, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (“BMIS”). Plaintiffs allege that defendants failed to conduct adequate diligence regarding Ma-doff, ignored “red flags” that should have alerted them to Madoffs fraud, and made misstatements and omissions in connection with the sale of Optimal U.S. shares, causing plaintiffs to lose their investments and allowing defendants wrongfully to collect management fees.
On May 2, 2011,1 granted in part defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ Second
On August 26, 2011, I granted in part plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration of the May 2, 2011 Opinion and Order.
On October 13, 2011, I granted in part defendants’ renewed motion to dismiss federal securities fraud claims based on allegedly materially misleading statements and omissions in Explanatory Memoranda (“EMs”) issued by Optimal Multiadvisors, Ltd. (“Multiadvisors”) in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Janus Capital Group v. First Derivative Traders.
This opinion addresses defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amended Class Action Complaint. In this motion defendants contend that (1) the entire action should be dismissed under the doctrine of forum non conveniens; (2) plaintiffs’ claims against Banco Santander for committing or assisting fraud should be dismissed; and (3) the claims of Pioneer
II. LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Motion to Dismiss
In deciding a motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), the court evaluates the sufficiency of the complaint under the “two-pronged approach” suggested by the Supreme Court in Ashcroft v. Iqbal.
“In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a district court may consider the facts alleged in the complaint, documents attached to the complaint as exhibits, and documents incorporated by reference in the complaint.”
B. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b)
Rule 9(b) provides that “the circumstances constituting fraud ... shall be stated with particularity.” To satisfy the particularity requirement, a complaint must: “ ‘(1) specify the statements that the plaintiff contends were fraudulent, (2) identify the speaker, (3) state where and when the statements were made, and (4) explain why the statements were fraudulent.’ ”
III. APPLICABLE LAW
A. Forum Non Conveniens
“[F]ederal courts have the power to dismiss damages actions under the common-law forum non conveniens doctrine ... in ‘cases where the alternative forum is abroad.’ ”
The Second Circuit continues to employ a three-part test established in the seminal case of Iragorri v. United Technologies Corporation in addressing motions to dismiss under the doctrine of forum non conveniens.
“[A] court reviewing a motion to dismiss for forum non conveniens should begin with the assumption that the plaintiffs choice of forum will stand.”
[f]actors disfavoring forum non conveniens dismissal “include the convenience of the plaintiffs residence in relation to the chosen forum, the availability of witnesses or evidence to the forum district, the defendant’s amenability to suit in the forum district, the availability of appropriate legal assistance, and other reasons relating to convenience or expense. In contrast, Plaintiffs’ choice of forum*251 deserves minimal deference where that choice was motivated by attempts to win a tactical advantage resulting from local laws that favor the plaintiffs case, the habitual generosity of juries in the United States or in the forum district, the plaintiffs popularity or the defendant’s unpopularity in the region, or the inconvenience and expense to the defendant resulting from litigation in that forum.”27
Thus, “the greater the plaintiffs or the lawsuit’s bona fide connection to the United States and to the forum of choice and the more it appears that considerations of convenience favor the conduct of the lawsuit in the United States, the more difficult it will be ... to gain dismissal” whereas “the more it appears that the plaintiffs choice of a U.S. forum was motivated by forum-shopping reasons ... the less deference the plaintiffs choice commands.”
At step two, “the court must consider whether an adequate alternative forum exists.”
Dismissal is not appropriate if an adequate and presently available alternative forum does not exist.... [A] forum may ... be inadequate if it does not permit the reasonably prompt adjudication of a dispute, if the forum is not presently available, or if the forum provides a remedy so clearly unsatisfactory or inadequate that it is tantamount to no remedy at all.31
However, “[a]n alternative forum is adequate if the defendants are amenable to service of process there, and if it permits litigation of the subject matter of the dispute.”
“At step three, Defendants must establish that a balancing of the private and public interest factors tilts heavily in favor of the alternative forum.”
“The public interest factors include: (1) settling local disputes in a local forum; (2) avoiding the difficulties of applying foreign law; and (3) avoiding the burden on jurors by having them decide cases that have no impact on their community.”
B. Common Law Fraud
“Under New York law, to state a claim for fraud a plaintiff must demonstrate: (1) a misrepresentation or omission of material fact; (2) which the defendant knew to be false; (3) which the defendant made with the intention of inducing reliance; (4) upon which the plaintiff reasonably relied; and (5) which caused injury to the plaintiff.”
To state a claim for aiding and abetting fraud under New York law, a plaintiff must plead facts showing (1) the existence of a fraud; (2) defendant’s knowledge of the fraud; and (3) that the defendant provided substantial assistance
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Forum Non Conveniens
1. Plaintiffs’ Choice of Forum Is Accorded Deference
Plaintiffs’ choice of forum here is accorded deference. Although foreign plaintiffs are generally accorded less deference in their selection of a forum, even foreign plaintiffs are accorded deference where their choice of forum is based on “valid reasons, such as convenience.”
First, the “convenience of the plaintiffs residence in relation to the chosen forum”
Given these circumstances, New York is as convenient a location as any in relation to plaintiffs’ various residences. New York is a logical forum because “it is easily
Second, “the availability of witnesses or evidence to the forum district”
While witnesses and evidence from defendants’ European operations will also be important in this litigation, they do not outweigh the evidence in New York to the extent that it suggests plaintiffs are forum shopping. Defendants’ decision-making process and policies were created outside the United States, predominantly in Switzerland. Defendants’ marketing and communications with investors also occurred outside the United States. However, to the extent there are relevant witnesses in Europe, their testimony may be secured by letters rogatory.
Third, “the defendant’s amenability to suit in the forum district”
Fourth, there is no indication that plaintiffs’ choice of forum was motivated by improper considerations warranting minimal deference under Iragorri.
Fifth, plaintiffs raise an additional argument that it is defendants that are forum shopping. Plaintiffs argue that Clark’s supposed preference for Switzerland or Ireland could not possibly be based on convenience. In addition, they argue that defendants’ request to argue this litigation in multiple fora — previously requesting the Bahamas,
Defendants’ location indicates that they are legitimately seeking a forum closer to their European operations. The location of many witnesses and evidence in Switzerland and Ireland also indicate that defendants are motivated by convenience.
In sum, I find that neither plaintiffs’ initial choice of forum nor defendants’ request for dismissal in favor of Switzerland or Ireland are motivated by forum shopping considerations. The balance of the Iragorri factors favor giving plaintiffs’ choice of forum deference because — despite plaintiffs non-U.S. citizenship — their choice of New York as a forum appears to be motivated by legitimate concerns and convenience.
2. Adequacy of Alternative Fora
Switzerland and Ireland are adequate fora. Both possible fora satisfy the
First, Switzerland and Ireland are adequate fora because the defendants are “amenable to service of process there.”
Second, Ireland and Switzerland are adequate fora because they “permit[ ] litigation on the subject matter of the dispute and offer[ ] remedies for the wrong the plaintiff alleges.”
Likewise, courts have recognized Switzerland as an adequate forum for lawsuits such as this one. Emusquin held that Switzerland permitted litigation of plaintiffs’ claims, where plaintiffs alleged that “Defendants deceived Plaintiffs and/or breached their duties with respect to the performance, custody, and oversight of ... investments” including “false statements concerning ... investment strategy.”
3. Private and Public Interest Factors a. Private Interests
First, the “relative ease of access to evidence”
However, as Banco Santander noted, “Defendants’ due diligence”
In sum, the evidence relevant to this case is scattered all over the globe. There is important evidence in New York, Switzerland, Ireland, and elsewhere. Accordingly, this factor fails to “tilt[ ] strongly in favor of trial in the foreign forum”
Second, the “cost to transport witnesses to trial”
Much of the due diligence team — important witnesses in this litigation — remain in New York or New Jersey and are subject to compulsory process.
Fourth, defendants’ attempt to point to “other factors that make the trial more expeditious or less expensive”
In sum, the private interest factors fail to weigh heavily in either direction. Defendants have failed to show that the private interest factors tilt “strongly in favor of trial in the foreign forum.”
b. Public Interests
First, the fora’s relative interests
The United States’ interest in policing conduct within its borders has been affirmed already with the prosecution of Madoff, who will spend the remainder of his life in a federal prison. Furthermore, the Securities and Exchange*260 Commission is fully capable of validating the United States’ interest in policing the securities market by bringing suit on its own, which it has already done. As is common knowledge, numerous lawsuits have also been filed by domestic plaintiffs asserting domestic causes of action arising out of the unfortunate Ma-doff affair. The United States has ample mechanisms in place to punish fraudulent conduct; it is not necessary for foreign plaintiffs to bring lawsuits in our courts in order to validate those interests. In fact, it is apparent from the briefing that the Plaintiffs’ choice of forum rests largely on the procedural mechanisms available to Plaintiffs in the United States, such as the opt-out class action and contingency fee arrangements. The want of these processes does not render Ireland an unavailable or less convenient forum.
Furthermore, the Plaintiffs did not have a reasonable expectation of a United States venue for claims arising out of their investment in the Optimal funds. All of them purchased shares in a foreign fund with foreign directors, a foreign investments manager, a foreign custodian, a foreign administrator, and a foreign auditor. And, of course, the Plaintiffs themselves are all foreign. In addition, half of the Plaintiffs, in account agreements with their Banco Santander affiliate banks, explicitly agreed to forum selection provisions requiring them to sue in forums other than the United States.112
In response plaintiffs argue that New York has a strong interest in federal securities fraud claims arising from New York based conduct — due diligence performed in New York and Clark’s false and misleading statements made from New York. In addition, plaintiffs argue that the resources expended by this Court on previous motions, and by the parties on discovery, support New York’s interest in this action.
While defendants accurately note that the United States’ interest in the Madoff fraud has been vindicated by a federal prosecution, an SEC suit, and several private lawsuits by domestic plaintiffs, New York’s interest in this case is broader than in the other Madoff-related cases cited by defendants. Unlike previous cases, here plaintiffs did have a reasonable expectation of a United States forum because they allege that the due diligence occurred mainly in New York and that Clark made misstatements in New York. While other alleged conduct occurred abroad, this forum has “at least as great an interest in this dispute as” as Switzerland or Ireland because of the conduct in New York and the interest in policing fraudulent misrepresentations made in the United States.
Other interests of the possible forums do not weigh heavily in my consideration. The interest in “settling local disputes in a local forum”
Second, the interest in “avoiding the difficulties of applying foreign law”
In sum, the public interest factors barely tip the scales in favor of a foreign forum. Defendants have failed to show that the public interest factors — especially combined with the private interest factors — tilt “strongly” in favor of Ireland or Switzerland such that defendants can overcome the deference due to plaintiffs’ choice of forum.
B. Fraud Claims Against Banco Santander
1. False Statement
Defendants argue that the common law fraud claims against Banco Santander must be dismissed because plaintiffs do not point to any misstatements by Banco Santander. Rather, plaintiffs accuse defendants generally of making statements that appeared in Explanatory Memoranda (“EMs”) issued by Optimal Multiadvisors Ltd. (“Multiadvisors”) and in oral communications between Clark and Pioneer. Defendants contend that plaintiffs’ reliance on the group pleading doctrine and scheme liability is misplaced in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Janus.
Initially, I note what this decision does not concern — whether the group pleading doctrine for federal securities law claims survives Janus. Rather, this decision concerns only whether the group pleading doctrine for common law fraud claims is still viable after Janus.
Although the analysis for common law fraud claims mostly mirrors the analysis for federal securities law claims,
Second, the Court’s holding is based on a construction of the language appearing in Rule 10b-5. The Court relies on dictionary definitions.
Under the group pleading doctrine, plaintiffs need not identify a specific statement made by Banco Santander; rather, they may satisfy Rule 9(b) by referring to an offering memorandum.
Although the group pleading doctrine often is used to plead liability for directors and officers, the Second Circuit has permitted the doctrine to be used to impose liability on corporations. Indeed, it originally developed the doctrine with respect to corporations acting as limited partners — not as shareholders in another corporate entity.
Plaintiffs have pled a relationship between Banco Santander and the subject of the allegedly fraudulent statements in Multiadvisors’ EMs sufficient to satisfy the group pleading doctrine. Plaintiffs rely on the allegations that Banco Santander (1) owned one-hundred percent of OIS (2) was aware of the red flags raised in the Courvoisier memoranda; and (3) oversaw OIS’s due diligence of the Fund.
2. State of Mind
Defendants also contend that the FAC fails to allege that Banco Santander acted with scienter, with respect to the
The May 2 Opinion expressly left open the issue of whether plaintiffs have adequately pled a common law fraud claim or an aiding and abetting claim against Banco Santander.
Although the standard for pleading scienter in a fraud claim is higher than pleading a section 20(a) claim, plaintiffs have adequately alleged scienter to support the common law fraud claim against Banco Santander for the same reasons discussed in the May 10 bench ruling. As stated previously, the Courvoisier memoranda raised many red flags sufficient to allege scienter. Although defendants contend that there is no allegation that Banco Santander actually received the memoran
C. Pioneer’s Claims
Defendants argue that claims by Pioneer for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and gross negligence should be dismissed because Pioneer has not alleged a compensable injury. Pioneer never invested in Optimal U.S. Pioneer seeks compensation for “loss of business,” “reputational damage,” and “loss of fees” that it otherwise “would [have] earned had the Pioneer Plaintiffs continued to invest in Optimal U.S.”
1. Fraud and Negligent Misrepresentation Claims
Because Pioneer did not invest in the Fund and did not suffer any direct losses its claims for fraud and negligent misrepresentation are dismissed. The New York Court of Appeals has held that “[d]amages are to be calculated to compensate plaintiffs for what they lost because of the fraud, not to compensate them for what they might have gained. Under the out-of-pocket rule, there can be no recovery of profits which would have been realized in the absence of fraud.”
Plaintiffs attempt to avoid the out-of-pocket rule by arguing that they seek to be made whole for the loss of “quantifiable and non-speculative fees,” not recoveries for what might have been gained absent the fraud.
2. Gross Negligence
In the May 2 Opinion, I held that similar gross negligence claims asserted against OIS and Clark were “derivative because ‘[e]ach is based on the alleged mismanagement of the [] Fund through the failure to conduct adequate due diligence and to discover and act upon red flags.’ ”
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, defendants’ motion to dismiss is granted in part and denied in part. Defendants’ motion for dismissal under the doctrine of forum non conveniens is denied. Counts XVI-XVTII are dismissed. Counts I — II and VIII are sustained. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this motion [Docket No. 66].
The following claims remain in this action: common law fraud and negligent misrepresentation against OIS, Clark, and Banco Santander (Counts I — IV); aiding and abetting fraud against Banco Santander (Count VIII); and federal securities fraud against OIS (Count XIII), Clark (Count XII), and Banco Santander (Count XV).
SO ORDERED.
. Defendants include (1) Optimal U.S.’s investment manager, Optimal Investment Management Services, S.A. ("OIS”); (2) an employee thereof, Jonathan Clark; and (3) OIS’s corporate parent, Banco Santander, S.A. ("Banco Santander”). Plaintiffs include (1) Pioneer International Ltd. ("Pioneer”), an investment advisory firm incorporated in the British Virgin Islands; (2) the "Pioneer Plaintiffs,” fifty-six non-U.S. persons and entities who invested in Optimal U.S. based on advice provided by Pioneer (whose advice was in turn based on Defendants’ misrepresentations); (3) the "Santander Plaintiffs,” three
.See In re Optimal U.S. Litig., 813 F.Supp.2d at 363-83. Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' claims under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act”) was denied at a conference held on May 10, 2011. See Transcript of 5/10/11 Conference ("5/10/11 Tr.”) [Docket No. 36], This Opinion assumes familiarity with the background and applicable law of this case, as stated in the May 2 Opinion and the May 10 bench ruling.
. See In re Optimal U.S. Litig., 813 F.Supp.2d 383 (S.D.N.Y. 2011).
. Id. at 385-87.
. - U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 2296, 180 L.Ed.2d 166 (2011).
. 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b).
. 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5.
. See In re Optimal U.S. Litig., No. 10 Civ. 4095, 2011 WL 4908745 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 14, 2011).
. 556 U.S. 662, 678-80, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1950, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009).
. Hayden v. Paterson, 594 F.3d 150, 161 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1950). Accord Ruston v. Town Bd. for Town of Skaneateles, 610 F.3d 55, 59 (2d Cir. 2010), cert. denied, — U.S. --, 131 S.Ct. 824, 178 L.Ed.2d 556 (2010).
. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)).
. Id. at 1950. Accord Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., 621 F.3d 111, 124 (2d Cir. 2010), cert. granted on other grounds, 565 U.S. -, 132 S.Ct. 472, 181 L.Ed.2d 292 (2011).
. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 564, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (quotation marks omitted).
. Id. (quotation marks omitted).
. DiFolco v. MSNBC Cable L.L.C., 622 F.3d 104, 111 (2d Cir. 2010) (citing Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 153 (2d Cir. 2002)).
. Id. (quoting Mangiafico v. Blumenthal, 471 F.3d 391, 398 (2d Cir. 2006)). Accord Global Network Commc’ns, Inc. v. City of NY, 458 F.3d 150, 156 (2d Cir. 2006).
. Shields v. Citytrust Bancorp., Inc., 25 F.3d 1124, 1128 (2d Cir. 1994) (quoting Mills v. Polar Molecular Corp., 12 F.3d 1170, 1175 (2d Cir. 1993)).
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b).
. Quackenbush v. Allstate Ins. Co., 517 U.S. 706, 722, 116 S.Ct. 1712, 135 L.Ed.2d 1 (1996) (quoting American Dredging Co. v. Miller, 510 U.S. 443, 449 n. 2, 114 S.Ct. 981, 127 L.Ed.2d 285 (1994)). Accord Sinochem Int’l Co. v. Malaysia Int’l Shipping Corp., 549 U.S. 422, 430, 127 S.Ct. 1184, 167 L.Ed.2d 15 (2007).
. Pollux Holding Ltd. v. Chase Manhattan Bank, 329 F.3d 64, 70 (2d Cir. 2003) (citing Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 235, 257, 102 S.Ct. 252, 70 L.Ed.2d 419 (1981)). ICC Indus. Inc. v. Israel Disc. Bank, Ltd., 170 Fed.Appx. 766, 767 (2d Cir. 2006) (" 'Where the district court has considered all relevant public and private interest factors, and where its balancing of these factors is reasonable, its decision deserves substantial deference.'") (quoting Carey v. Bayerische Hypo-Und Vereinsbank, 370 F.3d 234, 237 (2d Cir. 2004)).
. Base Metal Trading SA v. Russian Aluminum, 253 F.Supp.2d 681, 699 n. 13 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (quoting Vanity Fair Mills, Inc. v. T. Eaton Co., 234 F.2d 633, 645 (2d Cir. 1956)), aff'd, 98 Fed.Appx. 47 (2d Cir. 2004).
. Iragcrri v. United Techs. Corp., 274 F.3d 65, 70-75 (2d Cir. 2001) (en banc).
. Norex Petroleum Ltd. v. Access Indus., Inc., 416 F.3d 146, 153 (2d Cir. 2005). Accord Abdullahi v. Pfizer, Inc., 562 F.3d 163, 189 (2d Cir. 2009).
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 71. Accord Giro, Inc. v. Malaysian Airline Sys. Berhad, No. 10 Civ. 5550, 2011 WL 2183171, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. June 3, 2011).
. Iragorri, 114 F.3d at 71. Accord Thai-Lao Lignite (Thailand) Co. v. Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, No. 10 Civ. 5256, 2011 WL 3516154, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 3, 2011).
. Erausquin v. Notz, Stucki Mgmt. (Bermuda) Ltd., 806 F.Supp.2d 712, 724-25 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (quoting Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 72) (emphasis added).
. Palacios v. Coca-Cola Co., 757 F.Supp.2d 347, 352 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (quotation marks omitted). Accord Huang v. Advanced Battery Tech., Inc., No. 09 Civ. 8297, 2010 WL 2143669, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. May 26, 2010).
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 73.
. Abdullahi, 562 F.3d at 189.
. Id.
. Pollux Holding, 329 F.3d at 75. Accord Turedi v. Coca-Cola Co., 343 Fed.Appx. 623, 625 (2d Cir. 2009); Online Payment Solutions Inc. v. Svenska Handelsbanken AB, 638 F.Supp.2d 375, 384 (S.D.N.Y. 2009) ("[T]he standard imposed on a defendant to establish such adequacy is not heavy.”).
. BFI Grp. Divino Corp. v. JSC Russian Aluminum, 298 Fed.Appx. 87, 91 (2d Cir. 2008) (quotation marks omitted).
. Norex Petroleum, 416 F.3d at 158 (quotation marks omitted). Accord PT United Can Co. v. Crown Cork & Seal Co., 138 F.3d 65, 74 (2d Cir. 1998).
. Erausquin, 806 F.Supp.2d at 727-28.
. See Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 73-74 (citing Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 67 S.Ct. 839, 91 L.Ed. 1055 (1947), superseded by stat
. Abdullahi, 562 F.3d at 189.
. Maersk, Inc. v. Neewra, Inc., 554 F.Supp.2d 424, 453-54 (S.D.N.Y. 2008).
. Iragoiri, 274 F.3d at 74.
. Palacios, 757 F.Supp.2d at 361.
. DiRienzo v. Philip Servs. Corp., 294 F.3d 21, 30 (2d Cir. 2002).
. Maersk, 554 F.Supp.2d at 453-54.
. DiRienzo, 294 F.3d at 28. Accord Allstate Life Ins. Co. v. Linter Gip. Ltd., 994 F.2d 996, 1002 (2d Cir. 1993) ("United States courts have an interest in enforcing United States securities laws, [but] this alone does not prohibit them from dismissing a securities action on the ground of forum non conveniens.”).
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 74-75.
. Wynn v. AC Rochester, 273 F.3d 153, 156 (2d Cir. 2001) (citing Lama Holding Co. v. Smith Barney, Inc., 88 N.Y.2d 413, 421, 646 N.Y.S.2d 76, 668 N.E.2d 1370 (1996)).
. AIG Global Sec. Lending Corp. v. Banc of Am. Sec., LLC, No. 01 Civ. 11448, 2005 WL 2385854, at *16 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2005) (citation and quotation marks omitted).
. See Wight v. BankAmerica Corp., 219 F.3d 79, 91 (2d Cir. 2000).
. JP Morgan Chase Bank v. Winnick, 406 F.Supp.2d 247, 252 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) (citation omitted).
. In re Sharp Int’l Corp., 403 F.3d 43, 50 (2d Cir. 2005). Accord Pension Comm. of Univ. of Montreal Pension Plan v. Banc of Am. Sec., LLC, 446 F.Supp.2d 163, 201 (S.D.N.Y. 2006).
. See McDaniel v. Bear Stearns & Co., 196 F.Supp.2d 343, 359 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (with respect to aiding and abetting fraud claim, "[plroximate cause exists where defendant's actions were a substantial factor in the sequence of responsible causation, and plaintiff’s injury was reasonably foreseeable or anticipated as a natural consequence”) (quotation and citation omitted).
. Winnick, 406 F.Supp.2d at 256 (quotation and citation omitted).
. Pension Comm., 446 F.Supp.2d at 177.
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 72.
. See FAC ¶ 11.
. See id. ¶¶ 12-59.
. See id. ¶ 64.
. Id.n 62-63.
. Lead Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Fourth Amended Class Action Complaint ("Opp. Mem.”) at 9.
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 72.
. Opp. Mem. at 8.
. See id.
. See Ingram Micro, Inc. v. Airoute Cargo Express, Inc., No. 99 Civ. 12480, 2001 WL 282696, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 22, 2001).
. See DiRienzo, 294 F.3d at 30.
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 72.
. See Defendants' Memorandum of Law in Support of Their Motion to Dismiss Fourth Amended Class Action Complaint (“Def. Mem.”) at 6.
. See Norex Petroleum, 416 F.3d at 155 (noting that a plaintiff's decision to sue outside its home forum, "where all defendants were amenable to suit" indicates that "convenience, and not tactical harassment of adversary, informed its" choice of forum).
. See Iragorri, 274 F.3d at IT. ("Plaintiffs’ choice of forum deserves minimal deference where that choice was motivated by attempts to win a tactical advantage resulting from local laws that favor the plaintiff’s case, the habitual generosity of juries in the United States or in the forum district, the plaintiff’s popularity or the defendant's unpopularity in the region, or the inconvenience and expense to the defendant resulting from litigation in that forum.”).
. See infra note [74].
. See Defendants' Memorandum of Law in Support of Their Motion to Dismiss Second Amended Class Action Complaint [Docket No. 15] at 29, n. 22.
. Defendants' request for two equally convenient fora is not inappropriate. See Niv v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 710 F.Supp.2d 328, 347 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) (dismissing under forum non conveniens doctrine where "this dispute is more appropriately adjudicated in Egypt or Israel”), aff'd, 358 Fed.Appx. 282 (2d Cir. 2009).
. See id.
. See In re Optimal U.S. Litig., 813 F.Supp.2d at 363-83.
.See In re Herald., Primeo, & Thema Sec. Litig., No. 09 Civ. 289, 2011 WL 5928952, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 29, 2011) (granting plaintiffs' choice of forum “very limited deference” where plaintiffs sought to take advantage of the U.S. class action device, avoid fee-shifting rules, achieve higher damages, and take advantage of Madoff's notoriety in New York); Erausquin, 806 F.Supp.2d at 725-26 ("On balance, Plaintiffs' choice of this District appears to have been based more on forum shopping considerations than on legitimate reasons.”); Anwar v. Fairfield Greenwich Ltd., 742 F.Supp.2d 367, 375-78 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (granting plaintiffs' choice of forum "limited deference” where plaintiffs from Dubai brought suit on "representations made ... in Singapore and Dubai” even though the litigation had world-wide scope); In re Banco Santander Sec.-Optimal Litig,, 732 F.Supp.2d 1305, 1336 (S.D.Fla. 2010) (granting plaintiffs’ choice of forum "some, but little, deference” where "none of the Plaintiffs, and only two of the twelve Defendants, are citizens of the United States,” "[t]he relevant investment funds were incorporated in the Bahamas,” and availability of the class action and contingent fee mechanisms factored in the choice of forum), off d sub nom. Inversiones Mar Octava Limitada v. Banco Santander S.A., 439 Fed.Appx. 840 (11th Cir. 2011) (per curiam).
. In re Herald, Primeo, & Thema Sec. Litig., 2011 WL 5928952, at *12 (quotations omitted).
. Banco Santander, Til F.Supp.2d at 1336. I also note that the Banco Santander decision, while based on the law of the Eleventh Circuit and not considering the Iragorri factors, focused its inquiry on whether the plaintiffs' choice of forum was truly based on convenience. See id.
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 72.
. Erausquin, 806 F.Supp.2d at 725-26.
. See DiRienzo, 294 F.3d at 28 (holding that plaintiffs had a "valid reason” to sue in United States federal court where seeking to enforce United States federal law).
. See Anwar, 742 F.Supp.2d at 377.
. Id.
. See Def. Mem. at 6.
. See BFI Grp. Divino Corp., 298 Fed.Appx. at 91 (noting that "[a]n agreement by the defendant to submit to the jurisdiction of the foreign forum can generally satisfy this requirement”) (quotation marks omitted); see also Banco Santander, 732 F.Supp.2d at 1332 ("The Court will honor the Defendants’ consents to submit to personal jurisdiction in Ireland but will retain jurisdiction to try this case in the event that any of the Defendants do not submit to the jurisdiction of the Irish courts.”).
. Anwar, 742 F.Supp.2d at 377.
. Banco Santander, 732 F.Supp.2d at 1332.
. Id.
. Anwar, 742 F.Supp.2d at 377.
. Erausquin, 806 F.Supp.2d at 716-17, 726.
. See Def. Mem. at 7.
. Maersk, 554 F.Supp.2d at 453-54.
. See Banco Santander, 732 F.Supp.2d at 1336-37.
. See Def. Mem. at 9.
. Banco Santander, 732 F.Supp.2d at 1338 ("Nor is the Court persuaded that Madoff and DiPascali possess information that is necessary to the pertinent issues in this case, namely any Defendant's state of mind, the nature of the Defendants' due diligence, and any Plaintiffs’ reliance on the Defendants’ actions and representations.”); see also Erausquin, 806 F.Supp.2d at 727-28 ("[T]he Complaint’s most prominently featured individual, Echevarria, resides in Switzerland and, as a former Notz Stucki employee, is not subject to compulsory process in New York.”).
. Banco Santander, 732 F.Supp.2d at 1338.
. Erausquin, 806 F.Supp.2d at 727-28.
. See DiRienzo, 294 F.3d at 30.
. Omollo v. Citibank, N.A., No. 07 Civ. 9259, 2008 WL 1966721, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. May 6, 2008), aff'd, 361 Fed.Appx. 288 (2d Cir. 2010).
. Maersk, 554 F.Supp.2d at 453-54.
. See Cromer Fin. Ltd. v. Berger, 158 F.Supp.2d 347, 362 (S.D.N.Y. 2001) ("[Wjhile it is important to weigh from every relevant perspective the burden on the Bermuda defendants of litigation in New York as opposed to in their own home, any fair evaluation of the extent of that burden must also take into account that these defendants expressed no reluctance to perform work emanating from the United States, or to travel to the United States, when seeking employment by the Fund. In short, they expressed a desire to perform on a global stage when it was in their interest to do so.”).
. Maersk, 554 F.Supp.2d at 453-54.
. See Banco Santander, 732 F.Supp.2d at 1338 (noting that letters rogatory “are freely granted by district courts in the United States”).
. Opp. Mem. at 13.
. See 10/6/11 Declaration of Jerome C. Pontrelli, Director of Investigations for plaintiffs' counsel, in Support of Lead Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss ¶¶ 4-8.
. Ingram Micro, 2001 WL 282696, at *4.
. Maersk, 554 F.Supp.2d at 453-54.
. See Def. Mem. at 10 n. 9.
. See 10/6/11 Declaration of Titus van Stiphout, plaintiffs’ Swiss law expert, at 5 (concluding that "application of the Swiss privacy statutes and statutes protecting business secrets does not depend on whether the Case is proceeded in a Swiss court or a U.S. court”).
. See infra Part IV A.3.b.
. Omollo, 2008 WL 1966721, at *3.
. See Maersk, 554 F.Supp.2d at 453-54.
. Def. Mem. at 14.
. Banco Santander, 732 F.Supp.2d at 1343-44 (citations omitted).
. Manela v. Garantia Banking Ltd., 940 F.Supp. 584, 595 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) ("The United States ... has a strong interest in policing fraudulent misrepresentations made within this country in connection with the purchase and sale of securities regardless of the nationality of the victim, the tortfeasor, or the issuer.”).
. Maersk, 554 F.Supp.2d at 454.
. Id.
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 74 (quoting Gulf Oil, 330 U.S. at 508-09, 67 S.Ct. 839).
. Maersk, 554 F.Supp.2d at 453-54.
. See Palacios, 757 F.Supp.2d at 363; PT United Can Co. v. Crown Cork & Seal Co., No. 96 Civ 3669, 1997 WL 31194, at *10 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 28, 1997), aff'd, 138 F.3d 65 (2d Cir. 1998).
. GlobalNet Financial.com v. Frank Crystal & Co., 449 F.3d 377, 384 (2d Cir. 2006) (quoting Schultz v. Boy Scouts of Am., Inc., 65 N.Y.2d 189, 197, 491 N.Y.S.2d 90, 480 N.E.2d 679 (1985)). Accord Finance One Pub. Co. v. Lehman Bros. Special Fin., Inc., 414 F.3d 325, 337 (2d Cir. 2005) (the interest analysis is a "flexible approach intended to give controlling effect to the law of the jurisdiction which, because of its relationship or contact with the occurrence or the parties, has the greatest concern with the specific issue raised in the litigation”) (citation omitted).
. GlobalNet Financial.com, 449 F.3d at 384.
. Cromer Fin. Ltd. v. Berger, 137 F.Supp.2d 452, 492 (S.D.N.Y. 2001) (citation and quotation marks omitted). Accord Sack v. Low, 478 F.2d 360, 365-66 (2d Cir. 1973) (interpreting New York law). However, plaintiffs are located in many foreign jurisdictions — all of which have their own law.
. See e.g., Minpeco, S.A. v. Conticommodity Servs., Inc., 116 F.R.D. 517, 519 (S.D.N.Y. 1987) ("At issue is BPS’ refusal to provide certain documents and interrogatory answers containing information whose disclosure BPS contends would violate Swiss bank secrecy laws.”).
. E.ON AG v. Acciona, S.A., 468 F.Supp.2d 559, 588 (S.D.N.Y. 2007).
. Omollo, 2008 WL 1966721, at *3.
. Iragorri, 274 F.3d at 74-75.
. A more extensive discussion of the Janus opinion appears in the October 14 Opinion. See In re Optimal U.S. Litig., 2011 WL 4908745, at *1-2.
. See AIG Global Sec. Lending Corp., 2005 WL 2385854, at *16.
. Janus, 131 S.Ct. at 2302 (quoting Stoneridge Inv. Partners v. Scientific-Atlanta, 552 U.S. 148, 167, 128 S.Ct. 761, 169 L.Ed.2d 627 (2008)).
. See id. ("One 'makes’ a statement by stating it. When 'make' is paired with a noun expressing the action of a verb, the resulting phrase is ‘approximately equivalent in sense’ to that verb. For instance, 'to make a proclamation' is the approximate equivalent of 'to proclaim,' and 'to make a promise' approxi
. See e.g., A. Raymond Randolph, Dictionaries, Plain Meaning, and Context in Statutory Interpretation, 17 Harv. J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 71, 73 (1994) ("Dictionary citing in judicial opinions ... imply that the meaning of the words used in a statute equal the meaning of the statute. This is demonstrably false or, as Judge Easterbrook has put it, 'silly.' ”) (citations omitted).
. See Ouaknine v. MacFarlane, 897 F.2d 75, 80 (2d Cir. 1990) ("[Rjeference to an offering memorandum satisfies [Rule] 9(b)’s requirement of identifying time, place, speaker, and content of representation where, as here, defendants are insiders or affiliates participating in the offer of securities.”); Luce v. Edelstein, 802 F.2d 49, 55 (2d Cir. 1986) ("[N]o specific connection between fraudulent representations in [an] Offering Memorandum and particular defendants is necessary where ... defendants are insiders or affiliates participating in the offer of the securities in question.”).
. King County, Wash. v. IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG, 751 F.Supp.2d 652, 658-59 (S.D.N.Y. 2010).
. In re Smith Barney Transfer Agent Litig., 765 F.Supp.2d 391, 401 (S.D.N.Y. 2011).
. See Ouaknine, 897 F.2d at 80; DiVittorio v. Equidyne Extractive Indus., Inc., 822 F.2d 1242, 1248-49 (2d Cir. 1987) (allowing plaintiffs, investors in a limited partnership, to use the group pleading doctrine to proceed against the limited partnership itself, the cor
.Brickman v. Tyco Toys, Inc., 722 F.Supp. 1054, 1061 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).
. Polar Int'l Brokerage Corp. v. Reeve, 108 F.Supp.2d 225, 238 (S.D.N.Y. 2000).
. See Adler v. Berg Harmon Assocs., 816 F.Supp. 919, 927-28 (S.D.N.Y. 1993) ("The two parent corporations are Berg Harmon insiders who are alleged to have participated in the drafting of the PPMs through the actions taken on their behalf by Berg, their high ranking officer. Thus, the allegations against [the parent corporations] are sufficiently specific under Rule 9(b).”) (citation omitted).
. See 5/10/11 Tr. at 11-12.
. See In re NovaGold Res. Inc. Sec. Litig., 629 F.Supp.2d 272, 303 (S.D.N.Y. 2009) (holding that plaintiff must “plead scienter for each defendant’’).
. Winnick, 406 F.Supp.2d at 252.
. FAC ¶ 88.
. See In re Optimal U.S. Litig., 813 F.Supp.2d at 383 n. 234 (“Defendants do not explicitly attack Plaintiffs' aiding and abetting claim for failure to allege Banco Santander’s 'actual knowledge of the underlying fraud,’ a required element.... [I]f and when Defendants revisit this argument in the context of (once again) moving to dismiss Plaintiffs' fraud claims, they are invited to seek dismissal of Plaintiffs' aiding and abetting claims on this ground as well.’’) (citations omitted); id. at 382 ("[T]here is a dearth of briefing on the adequacy of Plaintiffs’ common law fraud allegations as to the third defendant named in Counts I — II, Banco Santander — no doubt due to the page limits imposed by this Court. Therefore, I defer ruling on the issue. Defendants are invited to revisit their argument that Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim for fraud against Banco Santander, either in a renewed motion to dismiss (if Plaintiffs file a third amended complaint) or in conjunction with their proposed forum non conveniens motion.”).
. See In re Optimal U.S. Litig., 2011 WL 4908745, at *9.
. 5/10/11 Tr. at 12.
. Id.
. See id.
. FAC ¶¶ 412, 419.
. Lama Holding Co., 88 N.Y.2d at 421, 646 N.Y.S.2d 76, 668 N.E.2d 1370.
. See Kulas v. Adachi, No. 96 Civ. 6674, 1997 WL 256957, at *10 (S.D.N.Y. May 16, 1997) (no recovery for loss of customers and injury to business reputation); Spanierman Gallery Profit Sharing Plan v. Arnold, No. 95 Civ. 4468, 1997 WL 139522, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 27, 1997) (no recovery for lost profits).
. Opp. Mem. at 25.
. See Stewart v. Jackson & Nash, 976 F.2d 86, 87-90 (2d Cir. 1992) (holding that fraudulent inducement to employment was not barred by principle of at-will employment, but not considering damages); Cole v. Kobs & Draft Adver., Inc., 921 F.Supp. 220, 226 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) (sustaining fraud claims seeking reputational damages and damages to "career path”).
. See Cole, 921 F.Supp. at 223 ("Cole commenced the present action, alleging fraudulent inducement in connection with Fantom's statements that she would be promoted to account director and that she would have 'a
.In re Optimal U.S. Litig., 813 F.Supp.2d at 377-79 (quoting Newman v. Family Mgmt. Corp., 748 F.Supp.2d 299, 315 (S.D.N.Y. 2010)).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re OPTIMAL U.S. LITIGATION
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- 21 cases
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- Published